Top Tips for Finding the Best Travel Deals

Travel is back on and now it’s time to get out there and explore! UP Express is sharing the best insider tips and tricks to help you get the best deal on your next vacation so you can travel cheaper and smarter this year.

While there might not be a magic day of the week or time to get you the cheapest airfare, there are a few rules of knowing when to book, depending on your destination. For domestic flights within Canada, book your ticket three to five weeks in advance, while booking eight months in advance for U.S. flights from Canada can help you score the cheapest fares, according to experts. Saving the most on overseas destinations requires some advance planning with travel insiders suggesting booking your flights up to 11 months out from your travel dates.

Seasoned travellers will tell you the best deals come in the shoulder seasons. July and August are prime travel times, but if your plans are flexible, you can visit the same locales for less in April and May or September and October. A bonus is there will also be less tourists – which drive down both hotel prices and wait times at popular attractions.

Want to go somewhere but time and money are a major factor? Google Flights is one of the best tools you can use to test out your travel options. Simply pick your home airport and click “explore” to search for your desired trip length and timeframe within the next six months to see which destinations can give you the most bang for your buck. You can also find incredible deals on flights from a freemium service like Next Departure.

Flying on a Friday or Sunday is almost always more expensive than taking off on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Look for mid-week flights to save anywhere from a few bucks to a few hundred to popular destinations. Time of day may also make a difference to the ticket price with less desirable flights – think early morning or overnight – generally going for less than an 11 a.m. flight.

Online retailers like Expedia and Kayak allow you to book your hotel and flight in one transaction. Routinely, purchasing a flight will get you a discount on a hotel stay for all or part of your travel days. Don’t discount airline packages either as many will also offer vacation packages with airfare and discounted accommodations that can be cheaper than booking separately. Be sure to add some of these essential travel items to your suitcase to make your next trip a breeze.

Credit Cards are the key to cashless travel and finding the right travel rewards card can end up being a big money saver. Not only will using a travel rewards card on everyday purchases help you save up points for your next vacation quicker, they often come with lots of other perks including free upgrades and even late hotel checkout. Plus, many come with signing bonuses that you can put towards that next trip. Just make sure your credit card has low or no foreign transaction fees or you might end up paying up to 3% more for your souvenirs.

Whether you are travelling alone or with a group of friends or family, UP Express can save you not just money but time getting to and from downtown Toronto and Toronto Pearson Airport. Teens and post-secondary students get 40% off standard fare with PRESTO. Kids 12 and under always travel free. With three convenient stops at Union Station, Bloor Station and Weston Station, take advantage of frequent service, roomy on-board luggage racks and power outlets for last-minute phone and laptop charging. You can connect your mobile devices to UP Express’ free Wi-Fi on board and/or at station and access your flight info, catch up on emails, or simply browse the web or social media sites. Skip the traffic, enjoy the stress-free ride and arrive at Pearson Airport in 25 minutes from downtown Union Station.

Many airlines will offer a free stopover of one to three days en route to your final destination. Popular destinations from Toronto include Icelandair’s Reykjavik stopover on the way to and from their European destinations. Another tip is to take a look at multiple destinations and fly in to one city and out of another, especially in Europe. Often, you can find flying in one city cheaper than another, and while you’ll have to make your own way between stops, it’ll save you the time and effort of backtracking back to your arrival airport.
If you are travelling through Toronto International Pearson Airport with a layover flight of up to seven hours, UP Express Long Layover Return Ticket can help you get to Union Station to discover Toronto’s top attractions. Take advantage of the perk that comes with your UP Long layover ticket – admission discounts to some popular tourist attractions in/around Union Station including the Hockey Hall Of Fame and CN Tower.

Travelling within Canada has never been more affordable! Locations across the country are offering flights and vacation packages at prices lower than before the pandemic. Take advantage of domestic flight deals with Air Canada Rouge, WestJet, AirTransat and Flair all posting discount flights on popular routes – especially if you follow our other tips and tricks when booking flexible flight times.
Ready to take off? We’ve got some Canadian and international destinations to inspire your next vacation. Happy travels!